In Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Afghan men gather at the main post office to collect their passports. In regions of Afghanistan without street names or house numbers, utility companies and their customers have devised an inventive method to stay connected. They utilize mosques as collection points for bills and cash, operating what locals call a "pay and pray" system.
In regions of Afghanistan where streets lack names and houses have no numbers, an innovative method connects utility companies with customers: mosques serve as drop-off points for bills and payments, a system dubbed "pay and pray."
Now, the national postal service aims to modernize this approach by installing mailboxes on every street across the country. This initiative seeks to overhaul a service historically hampered by bureaucracy and conflict.
The ambitious plans include facilitating online shopping through e-commerce platforms and issuing debit cards for digital transactions, a significant advancement in a nation where most people lack access to banking services. Despite these strides, Afghanistan's air cargo capabilities are nascent, and international courier companies do not extend services to Kabul, the capital.
However, these upgrades come with a price hike for users, posing a challenge as more than half the population relies on humanitarian aid for survival.
Afghan Post, like much of the country, operates primarily with paper-based systems. "Nobody uses email," remarked Zabihullah Omar, the director of business development. Despite being a member of the Universal Postal Union, Afghanistan lags behind other nations in postal service development.
The postal service operates between 400 to 500 branches nationwide, crucial for bureaucratic tasks such as obtaining passports or driver's licenses. It handles up to 15,000 passports daily and offers specialized services like document certification for higher education or foreign institutions, including dedicated areas for women at its Kabul main branch.
For Afghan women, post offices serve as vital hubs for accessing services otherwise restricted to them due to societal norms barring their entry into official buildings. However, reminders of Taliban-era restrictions loom at Afghan Post, with signage mandating proper Islamic dress for women.
One visitor, a medical graduate named Arzo from Farah province, shared her experience of being redirected from the Education Ministry to the post office for paperwork due to access restrictions elsewhere. She lamented the high fees while acknowledging the necessity amid economic hardships and gender-related challenges.
In contrast, Alam Noori from Paktika province praised the post office's efficiency in collecting his passport and driver's license, crediting social media for spreading awareness among urban dwellers but noting its underutilization in rural areas.
Zabihullah Omar envisions a more accessible service for all Afghans but acknowledges the slow pace of progress amidst bureaucratic inefficiencies. He emphasized the importance of extending postal services to every populated area.
The plan to install mailboxes across Afghanistan aims to facilitate bill payments, mail delivery, and document processing. Yet, traditional handwritten letters are dwindling in popularity, paralleling global trends influenced by digital communication technologies.
Hamid Khan Hussain Khel, one of Kabul's 400 postmen, traverses the city on his motorcycle adorned with Afghan Post's distinctive blue and yellow colors. Despite his dedication, personal letter deliveries have become obsolete amid the widespread use of smartphones and messaging apps.
Reflecting on his work, Khel finds satisfaction in delivering essential documents and witnessing recipients' happiness. He appreciates the reduced danger compared to past conflicts, highlighting the positive impact of postal services in daily Afghan life.
